[The Millennium project of the United Nations, particularly the worldwide reduction of childhood and maternal mortality]. / Het Millennium-project van de Verenigde Naties, in het bijzonder de reductie van kindersterfte en van moedersterfte wereldwijd.

ABSTRACT

This year (2005) marks a pivotal moment in the achievement of the so-called Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the United Nations. This article pays attention to 2 of the 8 MDGs, namely those pertaining to childhood and maternal mortality. A number of aspects are of crucial importance to the reduction of childhood and maternal mortality reduction of the number of (unwanted) pregnancies, worldwide access for women to high-quality healthcare services including prenatal care, care during delivery and postnatal care, and improvement of the referral systems. The impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the outcome of pregnancy is discussed separately.